George Russell

George Russell - The Complete Bluebird Recordings (ft. Bill Evans) (1956) {2005 Lone Hill Jazz}
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© 2005 Lone Hill Jazz | LHJ 10177
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Third Stream

This CD presents two original RCA/Bluebird albums from 1956: "George Russell Smalltet!" (1956) paired with "Hal McKusick’s Jazz Workshop" plus 4 Bonus Tracks. One of the most important and influential composers, arrangers, theorists and conductors in contemporary jazz, this release includes the three different 1956 sessions that mark George Russell’s complete recording legacy with Bluebird as a leader. In addition to these dates, this CD also includes the two different sessions set under the leadership of alto saxophonist and flautist Hal McKusick with compositions and arrangements by George Russell as bonus tracks. All recorded in New York City.

George Russell - The African Game (1983) {Blue Note CDP 7463352 rel 1997}
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© 1983, 1997 Blue Note | CDP 7 46335 2
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Experimental Big Band / Progressive Jazz

George Russell's The African Game is a major statement, a highly eclectic, nine-part, 45-minute suite for augmented big band that attempts to depict no less than the evolution of the species from the beginning of time to the present from an African perspective. Well, yes, this theme has been taken on by many an ambitious artist in every field, but Russell's work is remarkably successful because it tries to embrace a massive world of sound in open, colorful, young-thinking terms, with degrees of timbral unity and emotion to keep the idioms from flying out of control.

Bill Evans & George Russell Orchestra - Living Time (1972) {CBS Japan 25DP 5306 rel 1988}
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© 1972, 1988 CBS / Sony Japan | 25DP 5306
Jazz / Post Bop / Experimental Big Band / Keyboards

A brilliant "experimental" album featuring elaborate and rhythmically complex compositions by jazz academician George Russell performed by an large ensemble, and featuring Bill Evans on piano and Fender Rhodes. Very psychedelic and groovy. Pianist Bill Evans' second and final Columbia album was a rematch of sorts with composer-arranger George Russell; Evans had been on a couple of Russell's more significant albums of the late '50s. Russell's lengthy and episodic work "Living Time" (which has eight "events") features crowded ensembles as played by Evans' trio plus 19 musicians (including two additional keyboardists). Despite the major names in the "backup group" (including the reeds of Jimmy Giuffre, Sam Rivers and Joe Henderson), the focus throughout is on Evans' acoustic and electric keyboards.

George Russell - Jazz In The Space Age (1960) {Decca–GRP GRD-826 rel 1998} (featuring Bill Evans)
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© 1960, 1998 Decca / GRP / Universal | GRD-826
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Jazz

George Russell's third release as a leader combines two adventurous sessions. The first features two pianists, Bill Evans and Paul Bley, and a large ensemble including Ernie Royal, Dave Baker, Walt Levinsky, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, and Don Lamond, among others. The three-part suite "Chromatic Universe" is an ambitious work which mixes free improvisation with written passages that have not only stood the test of time but still sound very fresh. "The Lydiot" focuses on the soloists, while incorporating elements from "Chromatic Universe" and other Russell compositions.

George Russell's third release as a leader combines two adventurous sessions. The first features two pianists, Bill Evans and Paul Bley, and a large ensemble including Ernie Royal, Dave Baker, Walt Levinsky, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, and Don Lamond, among others. The three-part suite "Chromatic Universe" is an ambitious work which mixes free improvisation with written passages that have not only stood the test of time but still sound very fresh. "The Lydiot" focuses on the soloists, while incorporating elements from "Chromatic Universe" and other Russell compositions. The second session adds trumpeter Marky Markowitz, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, alto saxophonist Hal McKusick, and drummer Charlie Persip to the earlier group…

George Russell was one of the most forward-thinking composers and arrangers on the jazz scene during the 1950s, but his work was generally more appreciated by musicians than the jazz-buying public. New York, New York represents one of many high points in his career. He assembled an all-star orchestra, including pianist Bill Evans (a frequent participant on Russell's recordings), Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, John Coltrane, and Milt Hinton, among others. In Rodgers & Hart's "Manhattan," Russell has the soloists playing over the orchestra's vamp, while he also creates an imaginative "East Side Medley" combining the standards "Autumn in New York" and "How About You." His original material is just as striking as his arrangements, while vocalist Jon Hendricks serves as narrator between orchestra segments.

George Russell Sextet - At The Five Spot (1960) {Verve Elite Edition rel 2000}
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© 1960, 2000 Decca / Verve / UMG | 088 112 287-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Third Stream

This limited-edition CD reissue covers six tracks recorded in the studio (since they obviously omit any of the background noise, and the usual out-of-tune piano heard on live dates recorded at the long defunct New York City nightclub is missing). The band includes trumpeter Al Kiger, trombonist David Baker, tenor saxophonist Dave Young, bassist Chuck Israels, and drummer Joe Hunt, along with Russell's sparse piano. Things kick off with a driving take of Miles Davis' "Sippin' at Bells," which features great interaction among the horns.